The color match is much better with A., the Chloe. You can lay the tile in another pattern, like you've shown in B or your inspiration photo.

I do feel that B’s starkness stands out againt your creamy cabinets; it would not work for me personally. That said, the Cloe white tiles (from A) have variety of white tones and some with a hint of gray. Have you gotten samples of the white Cloe to compare againt your cabinets? I wonder about the hint of grey for you, unless you opted to pull out the grays and don’t use them.

These are both Cloe white…against a gray/white Caesarstone Cosmopolitan White quartz.

Naturally, backsplash is meant to break the monotonous flow in a kitchen. Simply introducing a new focal point to your kitchen space. So, I think option A would fit your kitchen cream cabinet theme.

Of the two, A is the better choice; the stark white splash in B is just bad against the cabinet color, much too stark-white. But, A is just quite right either... I think what's off is the counters -- on my monitor it's too cool-toned for the cabinet. But, maybe it's not that cool-grey IRL?

IMO vertically stacked tile only works in a very contemporary kitchen which, from what I see with the handles and pulls, you do not have.Is the whole kitchen now installed or are you trying to choose backsplash before anything is in? If the kitchen is not installed the backsplash and wall color are the last things to decide and both can be done after everything else is in

What’s the paint color on the cabinets? Did you commit to it yet?
In your inspiration they have cream with white backsplash. It’s a vibe. I happen to have an appreciation for it! I don’t mind the white with the cream.
But If you think you will , you should wait on the backsplash. Do it after everything in the kitchen is complete so that you can sample away, in the finished space!

Thanks for all the feedback!

I agree that waiting to make a decision once the counter and cabinets are installed is probably best. It's tough to tell in the photos because all the tones all read slightly different. (my cabinet color is reading really yellow and the marble a little more cool in the photos which neither are).

My takeaway so far is that everyone agrees that the plain white is too stark but maybe the other one is too grey. If anyone has other suggestions of some white textural handmade style tile, lmk!

"If anyone has other suggestions of some white textural handmade style tile, lmk!"

Check out Pratt & Larson rustic field tile. You can have any color from any of their series put on the rustic tile. Or, they have other textures, too.

Surfaces - Pratt + Larson (prattandlarson.com)

ETA: Oops, I meant A isn't quite right either.

Not sure I like the bright white of the tile against the creamy white of the cabinets. I'd either go with a soft colored tile or change the cabinets to a bright white.

Setting aside the color, I want to second Patricia Colwell's comment that vertical tile does not go with your other elements. Your first inspo pic has traditional square tiles, and what looks to be shiplap on the section on the left. Not the modern look of vertical tiling at all. Your second pic of vertical tile shows irregular either hand-made or meant to look like hand-made tile, also a very different look from your vertical tile in Option B.

Separately, and I realize not what you asked, do you really want the bin pulls on your cabinets rather than just pulls? Bin pulls are a bit of an added cleaning chore on the underside, and depending on their dimensions aren't that ergonomic, and are very traditional so why are you also drawn to vertical tiling.

Thanks for the feedback @M Miller— I was leaning towards a 4x4 square white tile at first, like my inspo picture. I got a bunch of feedback that it was too bathroom like so I thought the vertical tile would be similar to the shiplap but more unique to the square. I personally still like the square more. Do you think that would solve my dilemma? hah! And thank you for the input on the pulls, I hadn't thought of that.

Bedrosian Cloe tile has become the white subway from 10 years ago...it's everywhere.

There is vertical stack, and vertical off-set stack. I think the off-set stack wouldn't look as modern. (its your last picture w/the cloe)

these cabs are creamier and paired w/Cloe tile

whiter cabs and the cloe in the 5x5 size

another poster on here shared her redo w/cloe tile.

These cabs are painted Alabaster, and have the cloe tile

CleTile has a weathered White that would work w/creamier whites.